WASHINGTON, D.C. – Congressman John Sarbanes (D-Md.) today joined U.S. Senators Ben Cardin and Chris Van Hollen, along with Congressmen Elijah Cummings, C.A. Dutch Ruppersberger and Jamie Raskin (all D-Md.), in criticizing General Motors’ (GM) decision to terminate operations at its White Marsh transmission plant. The lawmakers called the decision an “example of extremely poor corporate citizenship” and requested a meeting with General Motors’ Chairman and CEO Mary Teresa Barra to discuss the company’s plans.

“We believe that White Marsh’s highly skilled workforce, modern facility and experience with production lines, from electric motors to transmissions, can and should be repurposed to meet GM’s new business objectives,” the lawmakers wrote. “GM has a responsibility not just to its shareholders but to its workforce and the taxpayers who provided the company with so much financial support.”

The state-of-the-art, 580,000-square-foot transmission plant has received hundreds of millions of dollars in grants from federal, state and local governments since GM opened its first White Marsh plant in 2000 and its second in 2012. After the 2008 financial crisis, the company received a $50 billion taxpayer bailout.

The White Marsh facility currently employs more than 300 workers. Its closure is part of a restructuring plan that will eliminate 15 percent of the company’s North American workforce and shift much of its production to China and Mexico.